January 13, 2012

This weekend, Bay Walk will be eye candy for bike-lovers from all around town, as the third annual Bikers for Babies on Bay Walk benefit takes place along Old San Carlos Boulevard Sunday, Jan. 15, from noon to 5 p.m., featuring a tremendous bike and trike show, vendors, and plenty more.

"Whether you ride in on two wheels or four, the place to be Sunday, Jan. 15, is Old San Carlos Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach," said benefit coordinator, avid biker and Ronin Riding Club member Norma Eveland. "This year will not only feature more vendors, along with live entertainment and a bike show, but we will have the first bed race on the Beach to include a traveling trophy for the winning teams, as well as a cornhole tournament, presented by KIWI Productions!"

Live music will be heard from Cadillac Blue at Nervous Nellie's throughout the benefit, and event-goers can browse the hundreds of sweet bikes and trikes that will be lined up all along the Bay Walk streets, as well as the many vendors that will be offering tons of trinkets during the five-hour festival.

Article Photos

Cadillac Blue will perform.

KIWI Productions, a company that plans and hosts tournaments, is happy to be donating proceeds from the benefit to the March of Dimes.

"KIWI Productions has been so great, really coming on board and helping us with this benefit," Norma said.

The benefit organizer tells us a little about the new bed races.

Fact Box

Bikers for Babies on Bay Walk

Sunday, Jan. 15, from noon to 5 p.m.

Where: All along Bay Walk, Old San Carlos Blvd.

What: Big bike show with several vendors, games, live music, family friendly fun, Chinese bedraces, cornhole tournament and much more.

"In addition to the bands, vendors and bike show, we're adding a Chinese Bed Race, where the contestants will run against the clock instead of each other," she said. "They will run the bed one direction with a rider in pajamas. When they get to the designated stopping point, the person on the bed will get off, take off the pajamas and one of the pushers will put them back on, and then they will push the bed back to the start/finish line. I've seen a video of this being done and it is hilarious."

Along with traveling trophies, each of the bed-race winners will take home two tickets aboard the Big M Casino.

Also during the benefit, a Bikers for Babies cornhole tournament will take place with cash prizes awarded to the winners.

If interested in joining either the cornhole tournament or bed races, or just taking in some good laughs, they will be held at the intersecting streets off of Old San Carlos Boulevard, from 1st Street to 3rd Street.

"The cost to compete in the bed races is just $5 per racer, and worth every penny," Norma said.

For those of your riding in on bikes, feel free to park anywhere along Old San Carlos Boulevard, from The Yucatan Beach Stand down to Nervous Nellie's.

"There will be bags on the meters for bike parking only. If interested in entering your bike in the contest, register in front of Nervous Nellie's," Norma said.

For those showing off their two- or three-wheeled beauties during the March of Dimes benefit, bike show winners will also receive trophies.

And, of course, like any other March of Dimes benefit, raffle drawings will be held throughout the day for a wealth of fabulous prizes, as well as 50/50 drawings. One extra cool thing about the raffles and 50/50s: one raffle ticket will cover you for both drawings raffles and 50/50s!

You must be there for to win raffle prizes but not the 50/50 drawings. So, be sure to stick around for the whole benefit, but also write your name on the back of your tickets, just in case!

"Everyone has been so helpful along Bay Walk and helpful giving donations as well. It's been a very pleasant experience," Norma said. "This isn't just a biker event. Families, come down and play some cornhole, see some live music, see some great bikes. There are lots of great raffle prizes, with raffle tickets up and down the street. The Ronin and Friends tent will be near The Yucatan, so be sure to stop by and say hello."

Participants are still being sought to enter any or all of these special contests as well as sponsors and vendors. For $25, vendors can rent a 10-foot-by-10-foot space, or for $50, rent a 10-foot-by-20-foot space.

If interested in being a participant, sponsor, donor or vendor, feel free to call Norma at 910-3160 or email dimelady@comcast.net or TopGun at 218-9019 ASAP.

This event is made possible by the support of The Yucatan Beach Stand, Smokin' Oyster Brewery, Nervous Nellie's, Zushi Zushi, The Shipwreck Inn and Gifts, Matanzas Inn, Harbor House, Snug Harbor, Fort Myers Beach Princess, The Arrow 94.5-FM, Krusty Pete's, Veolia and the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Also, Orr Insurance Group is the major sponsor for the event for the first year.

"Kathy Orr, owner, expressed her excitement to support such a wonderful organization and is looking forward to participating," Norma said.

About the March of Dimes and Ronin Riders

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

The Ronin Riding Club is a local group of motorcycle enthusiasts that enjoy getting together and riding in a family atmosphere.